Mower



(No Model.)

R. H. DIXON & G. H. CARVER.

MOWBR. No. 346,538. Patented Aug. 3, 1886.

yf@ @31, @6M/6m; /Za/ fm2# ROBERT H. DIXON AND GEORGE H. CARVER, OF RAVENSVOOD, ILLINOIS.

lVOWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 346,538, dated August 3, 1886.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT H. DIXON and GEORGE Hf CARVER, of Ravenswood, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ilIowingll/Iachines, of which the following is a speciiication.

Our invention relates to that cla-ss of mowers in which the cutting apparatus is adapted to rock or roll automatically in order to conform to the surface of the ground; and the improvement has reference to means, under the control of the attendant, whereby the cutting apparatus may be locked to prevent its rocking action or set free at will.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of such parts of a mower of ordinary construction as are necessary to an understanding of our invention,with our improvements applied thereto, the cutter being locked against the rolling motion. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the same parts. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the casting to which the main shoe is attached. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the sleeve by which the push-bar is connected to the transverse brace for carrying the cutting mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A, in its various powers, represents the main gear-frame.

B represents a bar or brace lying transversely across the front of the main frame and jointed at its outer end to the frame at A', its inner or grain end, which is free to rise and fall, being made of cylindrical form.

E represents a casting of the form most clearly shown in Fig. 3, having as its leading features the two sleeves E and E2, a depending arm, E, and a forwardly-extending arm, E". This casting is mounted loosely on the end of the transverse bar or brace B in such manner that it may be rotated or rocked thereon in the direction ofthe line of travel. The main shoe, to which the finger-bar is attached, as usual, is connected to the arms E3 and E* of the casting E by horizontal pivots c and e, as shown. These pivots permit the outer end of the nger-bar to rise and fall, while the rotary motion of the casting Epermits the finger-bar to roll or rockin a forward or backward direction.

D represents thepushbar eXtendingin a foreand-aft direction. Its rear end is pivoted to the main frame at A2, and its forward end is provided with a sleeve, D', which encircles the bar B between the sleeves of the casting E.

H represents a hand-lever pivoted to the main frame,and provided at its lower end with an ear, h, through which there extends loosely the rod I, provided atits rear end with ahead, fi, and attached at its forward end to the ear El. The hand-lever is provided with a locking-bolt, which engages the stationary notched plate G, to hold the lever in different positions. This locking-bolt will be operated through a rod by an ordinary thumb-latch at the top ofthe lever, or be otherwise operated, as preferred. Vhen the lower end of the lever is thrown to the rear, it firmly engages the head r,and,draw ing the rod l rearward,it tips the guard-fingers and cutting devices upward at the front.

The foregoing parts are of the usual, or of substantially the usual, construction, and are not claimed asv of our invention.

In carrying our invention into effect we provide the casting E with a rearwardly-extending arm, E, lying beneath the pushbar D, and serving as a stop to limit the depression of the guard-fingers. On the push-bar D we mount a sliding sleeve, J, having a lip, j', adapted to fit beneath the arm E and look the same rigidly in position, as shown in Fig. l, and thus prevent the rotation of the casting E and the rolling motion of the linger-bar. This slide J we connect by a rod, K, to the handlever H, which is thus madeto serve the double purpose of lifting the points of the cutters when required, or, on the other hand, of op erating the slide to prevent the rolling motion of the cutters. As the rods I and K are operated by the lever at opposite limits of its movement,it will be seen that the action of one in no wise interferes with the action of the other.

Ve propose to use in connection with the cutting mechanism lifting devices of ordinary construction under the control of the driver.

The location of the bar B is such that when the shoe and attendant part-s are lifted the preponderance of weight at the front will cause the arm E to swing upward against the under face of the push-bar D.

It is to be noted as a distinctive feature of IOO our invention that the devices controlling the cutting mechanism admit of its being set free to roll automatically as it passes over the ground, or of its being locked at will to prevent said rolling motion.

We are aware that cutting mechanisms which remain at al1 times free to roll upon the ground are old, `and also that it is old to combine with afinger-bar and shoe a locking-lever by which they may be rocked and secu red in different positions, the organization being such, however, that it is impossible to set the parts free.

We prefer to retain the details of lconstruction herein shown; but it is manifestqghat they may be modified to any extent desired within the range of mechanical skill without departing from the limits of our invention.

While we have described the part E as a casting,itwill, of course, be understood that it may be constructed in any suitable manner.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim isl. In a mowing-machine, a main frame and a cutting mechanism jointed to the frame to rock or roll in a forward and backward direction', as usual, in combinationwith a locking mechanism under the control of the driver,

casting, the brace B, push-bar D, and the main shoe carried by said casting, with the slide J, mounted on the push-bar, and connections,substantially as described, from the lever to the slide and to the casting E.

4. In combination with the rocking casting E, having the main shoe attached,the lockingslide J, the hand-lever, the rod K, connecting the lever with the slide, and the rod I, connecting the lever with the casting E, said rod having a sliding connection at one end, as de- V scribed and shown.

ROBERT H. DIXON. GEORGE H. CARVER. Witnesses:

W. D. PORTER, W. J. LUKENs. 

